I came across a Question where I had to make a decision where whether I could use "has" or "have" with "United States". I was under the impression that the US is singular and used "has".... While the correct answer shows the use of "have". What am I missing here?

Thanks!



Here, I marked 'B', due to the lack of a better option...Despite it having a parallelism error.

In his 1796 Farewell Address, George Washington strongly suggested the United States having as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and should avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements.

• A. the United States having as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and should avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements
  B. the United States has as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and to avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements
  C. that the United States should have as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements
  D. that the United States has as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and should avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements
  E. that the United States have as little political connection with foreign nations as possible and avoid permanent alliances beyond existing engagements